NY Thruway plans toll hike: How much more will you pay?

The New York State Thruway Authority is planning to raise tolls across its entire highway system.

WGRZ reports the Thruway Authority is seeking a 5% increase on tolls for NY E-ZPass customers, the first system-wide rate hike for E-ZPass users since 2010. It would also be the first increase since the Thruway eliminated toll booths and switched to a completely cashless system in 2020.

The Journal News reports vehicles without E-ZPass transponders, which are charged through Tolls By Mail when license plates are photographed, would see an even bigger rate hike. Tolls By Mail are currently 30% higher than for E-ZPass users, and the rate differential would increase to 75% above E-ZPass rates.

The E-ZPass rate on the Gov. Mario Cuomo Bridge, formerly known as the Tappan Zee Bridge, will increase to $7.75 by 2027. WKBW reports the bridge’s toll rates will increase 50 cents annually starting in 2024.

Discounts would still be available for specific commuters and certain residencies. Commuter discounts will be equal to 40 percent of the base NY E-Z Pass rate for passenger vehicles.

If approved, the rate hikes would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024. The Board of Directors is scheduled to vote on the increases Monday, Dec. 5.

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So how much will you pay for future road trips? Here are two examples:

Driving on I-90 from Exit 36 in the Syracuse area to the Buffalo Airport at Exit 47 currently costs $6.14 for E-ZPass users and $7.99 for Tolls By Mail. In 2024, the same trip could cost 31 cents more for E-ZPass users ($6.45) and nearly $5 more for Tolls By Mail ($12.83).

Driving from I-90′s Exit B1 in the Albany area to I-87′s Exit 5 in White Plains (Westchester County) currently costs $12.47 for E-ZPass users and $16.21 for Tolls By Mail. By 2027, when rate hikes for the Gov. Mario Cuomo Bridge take full effect, the same trip could cost $2.34 more for E-ZPass users ($14.81) and $6.52 more for Tolls By Mail ($22.73)

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A Thruway Authority spokesperson told WGRZ that the money is needed to keep up with infrastructure needs for the 570-mile Thruway system, which stretches from Western New York at the Pennsylvania border to New York City. The superhighway is entirely supported by tolls and does not receive funding from state or federal tax dollars.

The Thruway’s base passenger vehicle toll rates are also among the lowest in the country at less than $0.05 per mile, according to the Thruway. The Ohio Turnpike charges $0.06 per mile, the New Jersey Turnpike charges $0.11 per mile, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike charges $0.14 per mile.

RELATED:

Thruway chief: Tolls, not tax dollars, pay for NY’s superhighway (Guest Opinion by Matthew J. Driscoll)

New rest stop restaurants include Shake Shack, Chick-fil-A

NY Thruway: Pause Syracuse tolls during I-81 construction project (Guest Opinion by Rob Simpson)

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